"Thank you for your response to my needs"

I came into the A+E on Monday June 17th with a very painful eye problem probably brought about by trimming high hedges without protective plastic glasses. An eye problem may seem to be well down the triage list when looking at other patient needs, but it was extremely painful. I could not blink without severe pain. There was a large intake of patients waiting for A+E support so I had to wait for nearly three hours to be seen to, but to be very frank, this just represented a very high caseload on that day with staff doing their best to provide support. Triage was fast, friendly and efficient. I was surprised - and disappointed - by the number of names called who were not present. I was in some agony - so what was the status of people coming to A+E and walking out (without advising reception), thus delaying processing patients? This is unfair to other patients and staff. The doctor who saw me at 20.30 had been on shift since 08.00 that morning which is an extraordinary commitment above and beyond the call of duty. She was clearly tired, but made every effort to examine me and find the correct eye drops for my condition - despite it not being available in the examination room dispensary - she sought out the required medicament from another examination room (she could easily have said there was none available) and found the medicament which solved my problem after 12 hours. This may sound like a small problem that was resolved, but I want to give my thanks to Worthing A+E for caring and managing despite the huge workload, tiredness and challenges to life/work commitments. I know you all had a very busy day - I hope this small message of THANKYOU lifts the heart a little - you are doing a wonderful job - thank you individually and thank you NHS - I wonder if we are worthy and if we have any idea how lucky we are. Peter Rees-Gildea